“Couldn’t say how many times I’ve mentioned this,” Mal called, watching Jayne’s daughter scurry hurriedly by, shortly followed by River, and then Kaylee. “This ship ain’t no playground. Someone takes a short trip down some long stairs, I ain’t responsible.” The trio of high-pitched giggles likely drowned out his words in the large cargo bay, and so, rolling his eyes, Mal ascended the nearest staircase to the engine room corridor. *Girls*, he thought. *I swear, they’re a completely different species...*

Simon brought him up short. “Captain,” the doctor greeted.

“Doc,” Mal replied, then noticed that Simon was not moving to pass him. “What’s on your mind these days?” he redirected.

Simon fidgeted slightly, pivoting the toe of one shoe on the metal flooring. “Well,” he began, “I was just thinking... Am I correct in assuming we have no current job lined up?”

Mal crossed his arms, expecting a semi-serious conversation. “You would be.”

Simon nodded, absently averting his gaze. “Right, I thought so. Well...” He hesitated nervously, then continued haltingly. “Well, I was... thinking... Kaylee and I...”

Mal blew atmo out of his nostrils. “Doc, I need you to spit this out for me, or my kneecaps are likely to pop off an’ hit someperson.”

Simon nodded, sticking his hands into his pockets. “Right, well...” He heaved a sigh. “Kaylee and I have been talking, and we’re thinking about moving in together. Me into her room, of course,” he detailed. “If that’s all right with you, of course. We’ve been thinking about it, anyway, and well, I thought maybe you’d need to pick up some new passengers tomorrow for extra income, and, well, me moving in with Kaylee would...” He met Mal’s gaze, still appearing to be very nervous. “...free up an extra room.”

Mal eyed Simon for a moment, then nodded. “Good. I’ve been thinkin’ on the very same subject. Only got four passenger rooms, an’ with you, River, an’ the Sheppard takin’ up three of them for so long, we haven’t taken on transients in a good spell. You movin’ to a crew quart